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The best way to start Native American ancestry is to start with the known and work backwards to the unknown.  Follow the same research techniques as you would a non-Native American forebear.  Do not try to go from a particular tribe forward.  When possible, interview family members.  They may recall stories indicating that an ancestor had Native American blood in him or her.  Once the ancestor is identified, do significant research on Native Americans in the area of your ancestor’s residence.  There were many different tribes.  To gain a better understanding of which tribes may have been present at the time the researcher’s ancestor was residing in the area, it may be necessary to research the county, regional, and/or state in which the ancestor lived.   

The best way to start Native American ancestry is to start with the known and work backwards to the unknown.  Follow the same research techniques as you would a non-Native American forebear.  Do not try to go from a particular tribe forward.  When possible, interview family members.  They may recall stories indicating that an ancestor had Native American blood in him or her.  Once the ancestor is identified, do significant research on Native Americans in the area of your ancestor’s residence.  There were many different tribes.  To gain a better understanding of which tribes may have been present at the time the researcher’s ancestor was residing in the area, it may be necessary to research the county, regional, and/or state in which the ancestor lived.   

Several Native American resources can be found in our collection.  Many of them pertain to the “Five Civilized Tribes” of the Southeastern United States.  These included the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and the Seminole.  Just a brief mention will be made about these tribes since these tribes are not found in Ohio.  On page 29 of the book, Tracing Ancestors Among the Five Civilized Tribes: Southeastern Indians Prior to Removal, a simplified map showing the territory of the five Civilized Tribes is included.  From the years 1600-1800, the Seminole Indians were located dominantly in what is today the state of Florida. The Creek were located in the state of Georgia, the western portion of South Carolina, and the central, eastern, and southeastern Alabama.  The Choctaw were located in the western half of Alabama and the central and southern portion of Mississippi.  The Chickasaw were located in northern Mississippi, western Tennessee, and southwestern Kentucky.  The Cherokee were located in northern Alabama, northern Georgia, northern and central South Carolina, eastern half of Tennessee, southeastern Kentucky, western North Carolina, southwestern Virginia, and a small portion of southern West Virginia.  Many records of the "Civilized Tribes" were kept by the Federal government.   

Several Native American resources can be found in our collection.  Many of them pertain to the “Five Civilized Tribes” of the Southeastern United States.  These included the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and the Seminole.  Just a brief mention will be made about these tribes since these tribes are not found in Ohio.  On page 29 of the book, ''Tracing Ancestors Among the Five Civilized Tribes: Southeastern Indians Prior to Removal'', a simplified map showing the territory of the five Civilized Tribes is included.  From the years 1600-1800, the Seminole Indians were located dominantly in what is today the state of Florida. The Creek were located in the state of Georgia, the western portion of South Carolina, and the central, eastern, and southeastern Alabama.  The Choctaw were located in the western half of Alabama and the central and southern portion of Mississippi.  The Chickasaw were located in northern Mississippi, western Tennessee, and southwestern Kentucky.  The Cherokee were located in northern Alabama, northern Georgia, northern and central South Carolina, eastern half of Tennessee, southeastern Kentucky, western North Carolina, southwestern Virginia, and a small portion of southern West Virginia.  Many records of the "Civilized Tribes" were kept by the Federal government.   

Many researchers have great difficulty tracking their Indian forebear.  If the alleged Indian forebear were alive during the relocation of the Native Americans, or if he or she was born following the relocation, then the name should appear on the rolls compiled by the Federal government.  A couple other options may exist.  The Indian forebear may have chosen not to move west with its tribe.  He may have accepted a federal grant of land near his home and became an American citizen.  Another option may be that the ancestor may have disappeared into a remote area that white settlers and authorities rarely penetrated.  The other possibility is that the alleged Indian forebear lived earlier than believed by family folklore.

Many researchers have great difficulty tracking their Indian forebear.  If the alleged Indian forebear were alive during the relocation of the Native Americans, or if he or she was born following the relocation, then the name should appear on the rolls compiled by the Federal government.  A couple other options may exist.  The Indian forebear may have chosen not to move west with its tribe.  He may have accepted a federal grant of land near his home and became an American citizen.  Another option may be that the ancestor may have disappeared into a remote area that white settlers and authorities rarely penetrated.  The other possibility is that the alleged Indian forebear lived earlier than believed by family folklore.

It was quite common for intermarriages of a full-blood Indian and a Caucasian.  This was most common when the frontier had few white families and there were reasonably peaceful relations between the Indians and Caucasians.  Other times the Indian village may welcome the white person, usually when he was a government agent, trader, minister, schoolteacher, or a craftsman employed to teach blacksmithing or weaving.  Often times, it would take 2-3 successive generations of Indian-white marriages before someone of Indian background could live a regular life among the whites.  Intermarriages between blacks and full-blood Indians were common as well and were acceptable, especially in northwestern Ohio where there was an established Presbyterian Mission geared toward the Christian conversion of the Native Americans.  Many records do exist on the Indians affiliated with this Presbyterian Mission.  Other records may include narratives written by the missionaries, trappers, fur traders, and government agents.  They are not easily indexed and can be very time consuming to read through.   

It was quite common for intermarriages of a full-blood Indian and a Caucasian.  This was most common when the frontier had few white families and there were reasonably peaceful relations between the Indians and Caucasians.  Other times the Indian village may welcome the white person, usually when he was a government agent, trader, minister, schoolteacher, or a craftsman employed to teach blacksmithing or weaving.  Often times, it would take 2-3 successive generations of Indian-white marriages before someone of Indian background could live a regular life among the whites.  Intermarriages between blacks and full-blood Indians were common as well and were acceptable, especially in northwestern Ohio where there was an established Presbyterian Mission geared toward the Christian conversion of the Native Americans.  Many records do exist on the Indians affiliated with this Presbyterian Mission.  Other records may include narratives written by the missionaries, trappers, fur traders, and government agents.  They are not easily indexed and can be very time consuming to read through.   

Indian school records may include tribal affiliation, degree of Native American blood, names of parents, home address, dates of arrival and departure, attendance records, health cards, and letters to parents and social workers.  Enrollment records contain the name of the Indian tribe and date of validity, name (including given name, birth name, and married names), sex, date of death (when applicable), probate number (when applicable), degree of Native American blood, names of both parents, and blood degree of parents.  At times, when a person or family was denied enrollment, a court case is on file.  Allotment records of land parcels among adult Native Americans who were of at least one-half Native American blood may provide some clues.  When allotments were provided on reservation tracts, Federal government records may be tapped.  Land claims made by Indians against the government for monies owed them for land taken away and not adequately paid for during treaty eras may provide clues.  The Bureau of Indian Affairs is another source that may provide a wealth of information to researchers.  A more detailed list of other sources may be found in The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, pages 531-571 as well as other resources included in the Native American Bibliography.  The IGI (International Genealogical Index) for 1988 includes one microfiche on Native Americans and the 1992 edition includes three microfiche.  Additional information may be found through the website www.familysearch.org.

Indian school records may include tribal affiliation, degree of Native American blood, names of parents, home address, dates of arrival and departure, attendance records, health cards, and letters to parents and social workers.  Enrollment records contain the name of the Indian tribe and date of validity, name (including given name, birth name, and married names), sex, date of death (when applicable), probate number (when applicable), degree of Native American blood, names of both parents, and blood degree of parents.  At times, when a person or family was denied enrollment, a court case is on file.  Allotment records of land parcels among adult Native Americans who were of at least one-half Native American blood may provide some clues.  When allotments were provided on reservation tracts, Federal government records may be tapped.  Land claims made by Indians against the government for monies owed them for land taken away and not adequately paid for during treaty eras may provide clues.  The Bureau of Indian Affairs is another source that may provide a wealth of information to researchers.  A more detailed list of other sources may be found in ''The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy'', pages 531-571.  The IGI (International Genealogical Index) for 1988 includes one microfiche on Native Americans and the 1992 edition includes three microfiche.  Additional information may be found through the website www.familysearch.org.

Other resources commonly used to trace non-Native American ancestry may be used to trace Native Americans.  U.S. Census records indicate the race and ethnicity of the individuals included.  Vital records and obituaries may provide some clues.  Published family histories, both electronically and in book form may give information.  County and early state histories often times recount experiences with the Indians.  Various websites on the Internet should not be ignored.

Other resources commonly used to trace non-Native American ancestry may be used to trace Native Americans.  U.S. Census records indicate the race and ethnicity of the individuals included.  Vital records and obituaries may provide some clues.  Published family histories, both electronically and in book form may give information.  County and early state histories often times recount experiences with the Indians.  Various websites on the Internet should not be ignored.